What a site this must have been. A chariot of fire, led by horses of fire, comes roaring out of heaven and comes right in between Elijah and Elisha. Then it seems, by the story, that it turns into a whirlwind and Elijah is gone! He just went away in the whirlwind. There is no other story in the Bible that is like this, except maybe Enoch who was just taken from the earth, never seeing death. No wonder Elisha wanted to stay by him. He had been told three times to stay back, and yet he told him that the Lord was going to take him away that day, but ELisha told them to be quiet. Several people told him the Lord would take him that day and Elisha told them to be silent, and he went with Elijah every step of the way, even across Jordan. Elijah asked him what he wanted, and Elisha asked for his mantle, the one that touched the Jordan and the river parted. That was his way back across the Jordan, spo he needed that. My question is “How did all these men know that God was going to take him that day?” Even Elisha knew something was going on.
It is fascinating to me that this story is so dramatic. Nothing like this had ever happened before, and it will never happen again, I don’t think. This was the day he would leave, but they had no idea how or when, just that it was this day. Is this why Elisha wanted to stay next to him? As his disciple,he wanted to glean everything he could from his master before he left. For them to know this was the day the Lord would take him away is absurd. Yet they did. I think the Holy Spirit had told them he would be leaving them this day. How else could they know? There is no record of Elija saying anything to them, although I am pretty sure he knew it was coming.
I remember the movie “Chariots of Fire” about Eric Liddle. He was a missionary and a sprinter, and he was in the 1924 Olympics and took home a bronze medal in the 200 meter and a gold medal in the 400 meter. First, he refused to race in the 100 meter race because it was running on a Sunday. Most thought this was the end of his Olympics, because sprinters always did the three races. When he only got Bronze in the 200, most thought he didn’t have a chance in the 400. But Liddle knew that God would use his running for God’s glory, and he ran the race. The scene where he lifts up his mouth and eyes to the Lord, and runs fast in front of all the crowds in the stands, and right past all the other runners, is incredible. He knew he would win that race, and gave God the glory while he was running! The title of the movie came from a book by William Blake. But the thought of the book came from Elisha. who also knew this was his day!
When will it be my turn, and how will I go? Would I want God to tell me this? It seems He told Elijah and some of those around him, And he took it well! He was ready to go, and he willingly passed on his ministry to his young friend Elisha. He passed the mantle to him. We still use this term today as a symbol of the passing of one to the next. Elisha had run his race, just as Eric Liddle did. He ran it with all he had, and in the end he had a young man ready to take the mantle from him. Paul had Timothy and others take the manele from him. Are we discipling anyone in the Lord? Do we stand as a mentor to someone else and discipline them for their future? I think often we forget that this is a part of our calling – to make disciples of all men not just to lead them to salvation and a love and knowledge of Jesus, but to actually discipline them so they can effectively run their race? We are thrilled when someone gets saved, but then how often do we invest the time to help them learn the tenants of that faith. I have to admit that I have not had many disciples in my life, although I was discipled by every Pastor I had, and several other great men of God. I am so thankful for them
I would rather not know the day I was going to be taken from this earth. I want to boldly declare the love of God, just as Eric Liddle did. He was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Elijah gave God glory right up until the time he was taken away. He never stopped working for the Lord. There’s an old song that says “We’ll Work ‘Til Jesus Comes.” Just like Elisha, and Paul and Etic Liddle, let us do that. Lord, give me a disciple! One who will follow me as I follow you, Lord. And let me be the one who shows them that Joy and Peace that can only come from knowing you! And help me run my race and finish the course strong.
God's Maintenance Man 